Chapter 27 #3
By the time we’re done, all of my clothes are in those two cases.
I lift my teddy bear I’ve had since I was born out of a drawer.
It’s not like I look at him or touch him every day, but it’s always been reassuring to know I have him since he was my favorite.
My tante and onkel on my dad’s side gave it to my mom during her baby shower, and I apparently gravitated to it from the very beginning.
I close the case I packed while Jorge does the same.
He walks over to mine and lifts it off the bed before I can.
He always helps me with my luggage without giving it a second thought.
Then he goes back to the one he filled and lifts it down.
As we wheel the cases out of the room, Bastian’s expression shows he finally understands I’m serious.
He knows my entire wardrobe must be in those cases.
“You’re really going to go—with him.”
“Yes, Bastian. You knew that when I arrived.”
“Were you fucking him even before we broke up?”
Jorge practically snarls, and Alejandro’s and Joaquin’s hands fist as Bastian leans forward to stand. He notices the men’s reaction and realizes staying seated is his safest bet.
“No, Bastian, I was not. I remained faithful to you until you failed me. Instead of cheating, I broke up with you. I may have been attracted to Jorge from the moment I met him, but I had no intention of acting on it. But he’s the man I’ve needed all along, and you only proved that.
You pushed me into Jorge’s arms. It was inevitable you and I would’ve broken up, even if I didn’t wind up with Jorge.
If I could have thoughts about another man, then I never should’ve been with you.
We didn’t have a future together once I realized that.
I may be angry and hurt by you, but you don’t deserve someone who can’t give their whole self to you.
You deserve someone who only wants you and doesn’t doubt her feelings toward you. Goodbye.”
Jorge walks over to Bastian and stares at him until Bastian shifts in the seat.
He leans forward, forcing Bastian’s back to press against the chair.
Jorge’s hands land on the armrests, boxing Bastian in.
Alejandro and Joaquin stand on each side of Jorge, their arms crossed and flexed.
If I were Bastian, I’d be pissing myself right now.
“You get to live because Liesel hasn’t asked me to change that.
You get to keep your hands as they are because you save children when you perform surgery.
Your face won’t show any signs we’ve ever met.
But in your mind—” Jorge taps Bastian’s right temple.
“—remember I can find you anywhere. There isn’t a fucking place on this earth where you can hide.
Come near my woman again, and I will make sure only God and I know where you end up. Stay away.”
Bastian’s face flushes with anger, but he remains quiet. The only smart decision he’s made since I asked him to come to the hotel. Alejandro takes a suitcase Jorge was wheeling, and we leave. When we get to the ground floor, I stop Jorge.
“I’d like to go into the office and see about breaking my lease.”
I speak to the property manager who observes Jorge, Joaquin, and Alejandro in the lobby, along with the large suitcases.
When I explain my ex-boyfriend and I broke up, and I’m moving out, he understands why I’d like to stop the rental agreement.
I’m not sure if the three men waiting for me intimidate him into honoring my request without argument, or he simply takes pity on me over the breakup.
He agrees to end the contract within a week rather than require the thirty days’ notice.
I reassure him my mother and sister will be there in a couple of days to sort out the rest of it and to clean.
I forewarn him that he may need to convince Bastian that he must leave, that I’ve already tried.
I suggest that if Bastian wishes to take over the lease, then he should be able to do that.
Since the property manager knows Bastian as well as my family, I think they’ll work something out.
Bastian is no longer my problem. If he doesn’t want to comply, then oh well.
We head back to Hisham and Noor’s house. It surprises me when Noor tells Jorge and Joaquin that she’s spoken to Luciana.
“Your mama asked me if the three of you have been eating properly while you’ve been away. I said all three of you look to be just as healthy and fit as you always have. She’s so proud of all of you, and she can’t wait to meet Anne properly.”
I look forward to getting to know her too.
I glance up at Jorge. He’s beaming at Noor after what she shared.
I slide my gaze over to Joaquin and Alejandro, and I see their expressions match.
It’s clear the brothers love their mother and that their cousin’s very close to his aunt as well.
I recall the elegant woman I met at the restaurant weeks ago, and a moment’s worry flashes through me that perhaps I won’t live up to her expectations for her son.
As though he perceives my worry, Jorge slides his arm around my waist and kisses my forehead. “I’m certain Mamá will steal all your attention from me. I shall be very jealous.”
I giggle, and he gives me a quick kiss on the lips. Friedrich gains our attention.
“I spoke to my father, and we’ve lined up a safe house in Essen for your family.
Clyde and his wife and children will meet us there.
We need to go to our own places and pack as well, but we wanted to be here when you returned to fill you in.
We’ll be in Essen for at least a few weeks until we’re sure everything’s resolved. ”
I glance over at Heidi. “What about your work? Can you really take off that long?”
“I have the vacation days, so it wasn’t too big of an issue.”
“Thank goodness.”
I notice Alejandro is speaking quietly on his phone. He hangs up just as Heidi finishes.
“We have men who can go with you to your places while you gather what you need.”
My family and I thank him for arranging that.
I definitely feel much better about them going with armed guards.
Joaquin and Alejandro head into the dining room with their laptops, explaining they have work to do.
My parents, Heidi, and Friedrich take off, and Noor needs to go to her office in town.
Hisham walks down the hallway to his study.
It’s a beautiful day outside, so Jorge and I head out there and sit together on a swinging bench.
“I know you said you’d prefer to stay with me, but what about work? You’re essentially giving up your job to follow me, unless you intend to fly back and forth between here and New York whenever you have client meetings. You certainly don’t have to fly commercial.”
I shake my head as my eyes widen. “I can’t imagine the expense of that.”
Jorge cocks an eyebrow as if to say, “We’re rich.” I just nod.
“Actually, as I consider it more, I realize what the outcome of all of this could be. The Frankfurt office may close. I don’t know whether Papa wants to continue working or not.
I don’t know if my parents would even want to stay in Frankfurt.
This has been a deeply traumatizing experience.
I assume Onkel Claude will carry on the business and who knows, perhaps my parents might move to Munich to be closer to him, or my father just retires. ”
I shrug and sigh as I continue to ruminate aloud on what this means for my family.
“I don’t know what it would look like because Onkel Clyde’s children are the same age as Heidi and me, but they’ve taken no interest in the family business.”
Jorge appears thoughtful before he responds. “Alejandro’s father, my tío Matáis, is our financier in most situations. He’s who you were originally going to meet with, but he had to be somewhere else, so I filled in. I think it was in the stars for that to happen.”
“I think so too.”
“Since Tío Matáis handles all our legal endeavors, perhaps you’d like to work with him. I know he’d like to spend more time at home with Tía Catalina. Perhaps you could help split some of the travel with him or cover the accounts he has when he must travel.”
It surprises me that Jorge suggests I work for his family, even if it’s on the legal side.
Bringing me into the family business is a huge commitment.
Perhaps even more so than he and I living together.
His arm’s around my shoulders, just like it usually is when we sit beside each other. He gives it a squeeze.
“Just think about it.”